OSHUN the African Goddess of beauty, love, prosperity, order and fertility.
Her name is synonymous with transformation.
"She is widely loved, as She is known for healing the sick and bringing fertility and prosperity, and She especially watches over the poor and brings them what they need. As Orisha of love, Oshun is represented as a beautiful, charming and coquettish young woman".
Read more about her here and here.
Initially I was drawn to Oshun because she is the mother of the birds and the fishes. Fish (my husband is a passionate angler) and birds feature highly in our lives. At first I knew only a smattering of facts gleaned in books but later the internet provided a deeper knowledge of her qualities and I became even more intrigued.
I have a Brazilian friend living in the States who knows her as Oxum. With the African diaspora Oshun was introduced to the Americas. Her name changes slightly from country to country but no matter where she is, she is loved and respected.
I feel a sense of reverence when I see this. How well you've used the natural textures and shapes of your materials to create what you do.
ReplyDeleteOne day I hope you will post a Youtube video showing us how you create your beautiful work.
Priya, "a sense of reverence" ...you have no idea how much your comment warms my heart. Thank you. I battle to photograph my work so that you can see the texture (these are really poor photos) so i can't imagine what i would do to a video clip.
ReplyDeleteShe;s quite beautiful. I love how the body is covered with metal feathery things. And her hair, cool!!
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DeleteHi Robyn, this is such a powerful piece and I think you honored her with your work. She one of my favorite transformational goddesses, and I am so taken with with your treatment of her hair and the length of her, just stunning... and I think you captured the texture pretty well... still she begs to be stroked...
ReplyDeleteRobyn, your work is always inspiring. i wish to someday see your work live.
ReplyDeletethis piece particularly resonates with me, evoking memories from my own past.
....interesting,huh?
Very striking. Wish it was in MY garden.
ReplyDeleteShe is beautiful like a goddess but also has a down to earth feel that is so relatable. I especially love the hair treatment.
ReplyDeleteRobyn, you have captured her deep sense of timelessness and spirituality. She appears ancient and timely at the same time - truly stunning!
ReplyDeletexxoo
un travail tout en sensibilité.. malgré la matière brut...tu dois avoir une cave d'ali baba...plein de trésors en rouille..:))
ReplyDeleteShe is beautiful Robyn. She looks "knowing" as if she sees and knows many things of importance.
ReplyDeleteTransformation can be so painful. She seems a strong guide for the journey.
Heartfelt congratulations on your January carving!
She appears to be ready for battle for those she watches over. Great rendition.
ReplyDeletemakes me want to sit and look and be completely quiet
ReplyDeletethose magic eyes!
ReplyDeleteQuels secrets nous réserve encore cette déesse, aux yeux mi-clos?
ReplyDeleteElle qui, sous les mains de l'artiste, se fait sereine et réconfortante dans ses parures de bois, d'acier, de métal et de clous rouillés.
Qu'elle nous guérisse enfin, nous et nos enfants! Et que l'arrondi de son visage qui nous rappelle le cercle lunaire, nous guide et nous apaise!
Thème et sculpture, ce «totem» me parlera encore longtemps.
So beautiful. My english is not good enough to say what I feel seeing it.
ReplyDeleteOh, Robyn, she is stunning! I have been familiar with the Orishas for many years, and Oshun has always been my favorite- along with Legba. You have exquisitely portrayed her strength and wisdom, as well as her beauty. Have you done carvings of any other Yoruba deities? If so, I'd love to see them.
ReplyDeleteshe is wonderful! the expression on her face is perfect! she knows!
ReplyDeleteWhat a carving and such a story, I think I would love her to look over me.
ReplyDeleteShe's gorgeous. I love that she watches over those that need her.
ReplyDeleteof course my first hit upon viewing her was she looked so "Buddha-esque". It is that peaceful countenance. And oh my goodness, I am smitten by her hair!!
ReplyDeleteTruly beautiful. I love that the materials make her feel so earthy and grounded.
You never cease to amaze me Robyn. I just love your work and posts.
ReplyDeletethis one is indeed somebody very special. i want to sit with her and just look.
ReplyDeleteI love the story on OSHUN and can see why you are so smitten with her, and know more about her.
ReplyDeleteAre they tines from a farming implement that you have used on her body?
Makes you feel quite humble this beautiful Goddess you have made.
Jacky xox
ah robyn...
ReplyDeletexoxo
Beautiful. Serene, strong, gentle, and wise. Just wonderful.
ReplyDeleteWow, that is amazing - I really love it. It has tremendous qualities - a calmness and reassurance. I'd love to be able to see it - and feel it. You are so talented!
ReplyDeleteR - brilliant piece; such amazing balance and design - and all the better that it is January . By the way are those all worn mower blades? Go well. B
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed how you revealed her slowly in your post, I am off to read more about this goddess who is new to me. I am particularly drawn to her hair details.
ReplyDeleteValerianna ... thank you, I got a kick out of doing the hair.
ReplyDeleteThanks Cat,that's a lovely thing to say. I wish my photos showed the texture more. I need a few lessons and a new camera.
Thanks Rebeca, it's interesting how many people have connections and knowledge of the Orishas (Oshun in particular).
Sand Hill Art, thank you.
Cathy, I love the earthiness of weathered wood and rust.Thanks so much.
Judy S, "a deep sense of timelessness and spirituality" .... I love that! Thank you.
Elfi, I do have a treasure trove of rusty things but I can never find particular pieces when i want them. I have run out of space!
Thank you Leslie, you know the battle I have to work in January. She is a triumph!I totally lost myself while styling her hair. Such a good feeling!
Lisa at G, the metal makes me think of armor and fish scales (She is also the Orisha of freshwater lakes, rivers and streams)
Thank you India, even though I say so myself... she takes me to a very calm still place.
Mo, the coffee bean eyes are typical of carvings in Africa.
Francine, Yes she holds many secrets :-)
I hadn't thought of her face as a lunar circle but it makes perfect sense. Sharing my art on my blog brings many unexpected gifts .... thoughtful comments and observations. Thank you!
Thank you Helena, you have said more than you imagine.
Sharmon, thank you so much! It is an added surprise that my fellow bloggers are aware of the Orishas. I have carved several of the Orishas (I'm drawn to the female dieties) but my first digital camera took even worse photos than this camera so I haven't kept a very good record. I carved OshunI and Yemaya. Let me look through my photos and I'll email you.
ReplyDeleteThanks Lyle, she knows... :-)
Penny, I do get that feeling when my totems are here. Perhaps it's the tallness that gives the impression of guardians standing over one.
Thanks Annie K, it was a pleasure carving her.
Carole, thank you. I had the most fun doing her hair :-)
Lucky Dip Lisa, thank you!
Thanks Velma, I'm so chuffed that you would want to sit with her.
Thanks Jacky, the blades are from a lawn mower. I bought them from a scrap yard and have had them hanging on a chain on my wall for about 3 years..... waiting for the right time to use them.
lynne h, :-) xoxo
Lynn, thank you so much.
Vintage Tea Time, wow! I'm enjoying the comments so much :-)
Thank you!
Thanks Barry, yes they are mower blades. They have waited a long time for the right time to use them.
I would love to share my space with her...
ReplyDelete...I can well imagine how she would calm and inspire...
Such talent!
x C
As usual, you have captured every nuance Robyn. Beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI love her!
ReplyDelete(Everyone has already said everything) Protection. Transformation. Especially adore the hair. Your work always sets my imagination running.
Wow!! I like very much your art Robin. I also like the way you make the wood antique. It seems that the sculpture was stuck for years in the ground :-)
ReplyDeleteAnd euh ... Yeah! I like her hair :-)
Ver beautiful Robyn, I do love her hair!
ReplyDeleteHer impact on me is calming. What a beauty! Self-confident, powerful, protecing... You have a special attitude to this goddess with the beautiful name of Oshun. Although wooden, I have the feeling that she's breathing, that she has a soul...
ReplyDeleteOne can learn a lot from the links, thank you, Robyn!
Oshun or Oxum - whatever her name she is very beautiful, and comforting, graceful, serene.
ReplyDeleteI particularly love her hair Robyn.
A really beautiful way to begin your creative year.
May it be filled with more ......
I am attracted to Mother Earth images by any name, and Goddesses of every realm. This carving is sacred and inspiring.
ReplyDeleteLinda, Oshun has many more qualities than I have mentioned in the post. Doing the hair was particularly enjoyable :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Chris. xox
ReplyDeleteWeaver, thank you.
Thanks Mansuetude, it was difficult not to overdo the hair. I just wanted to keep on adding more.
Wim, thanks so much. I enjoyed your talisman post this morning.
Thanks Kim
Thanks Rossichka, it is a beautiful name isn't it?! The shhhhh has a calming effect.
Thanks Susan, that was the best part for me.... breaking the January block, and feeling the sense of calm while carving her. She was definitely working her magic on me.
Marie, thank you so much. I love that she feels sacred and is inspiring.
I hope you are well, lovely work as ever. best wishes to you Blu
ReplyDeleteI wonder what her dress is created of... It's something mechanical? pieces of a plow?
ReplyDeleteThanks Blu, all is well.
ReplyDeleteWim, I found a whole bunch of old lawn mower blades hanging from a chain at the scrap yard. I bought them several years ago knowing that they would be just right for something one day.
Hi again Robyn ah those eyes are coffee beans, I always thought that shape was derived from cowrie shells!
ReplyDeleteThrough your carving hands I have been introduced to this Oshun in all her serene power...beautiful workmanship! I'm amazed at the softness expressed using wood and metal. Congratulations!
ReplyDeleteShe says so much with just her presence. You really captured her. thanks for sharing her. ....PJ
ReplyDeleteWonderful to be led to your page and witness your work of Oshun, so sacred and spirited. Took me back to the days when we danced to Oshun with the drummers...a pleasant memory..thank you!
ReplyDeleteR- re the mower blades - isn't it so good when the right time for wierd collections arrives - and they were just so right for this work - so strong - like armour and yet a bit of delicacy as well. B
ReplyDeleteMo, they call them coffee bean eyes but they could well have been inspired by cowries too because there are masks that have cowrie shells for eyes.
ReplyDeleteThanks Mary Ann, I do enjoy using wood and metal together.
PJ, thanks so much.
Maggie, thank YOU for sharing your memories. It's been interesting reading about the connections that some bloggers have to Oshun.
Barry, it's a good feeling isn't it?! My husband often encourages me to buy odd bits and pieces from the scrap yard "because they will be just right for a totem one day".
Robyn, She is so beautiful, and a wonderful spirit. I have been sick, so I am late getting here.
ReplyDeletexoxo
Thanks Annie, I hope you are feeling better today.
Deletevery beautiful...love the strong and clean carving that makes the expression powerful....
ReplyDeletemany good thoughts from
Anita Thomhave Simonsen, Denmark
Thanks so much Anita!
DeleteWow, you create such powerful pieces! Unique and beautiful, Robyn. I especially love her hair:)
ReplyDeleteGaby xo
You have made my day. Thanks Gaby.
DeleteRobyn, I love the way you have interpreted the hair. each individual and standing on its own. Beautiful work.
ReplyDeleteThanks Gwen. The hair was the fun part.
DeleteOshun is exquisite. No doubt she will find a new home soon.
ReplyDeleteThanks Jo. I'm hoping to hold onto a few totems since my house is denuded of carvings at the moment.
DeleteOh Robyn, Oshun is magnificent. Every thing about her, her expression on her face, her hair, her adornments. I am spellbound.
ReplyDeleteroxanne
Roxanne you say the sweetest things. Thanks so much.
DeleteHi Robyn,
ReplyDeleteIt's been awhile since I've stopped by. I have enjoyed my visit, as I always do. I don't think anyone else asked this question, but how do you know if your work is being pinned without credit? I'm just curious. I'm not on Pinterest, so I am completely in the dark about it.
Love your work, of course! Powerful, silent...
Thanks Karine, I am on Pinterest myself so I keep on bumping into my work with out credit or links and in fact sometimes someone else is given credit. There is a way you can check if your work is being pinned but only the pins that have credit and links will show.
Deletehttp://pinterest.com/search/pins/?q=karine+Swenson
breath taking....beautiful work. Thank you for her 'story' too and for sharing your wonderous work.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much PJ.
DeleteYou have certainly created a beautiful work representing light, love and creation. Using the old to create the new is wonderful.
ReplyDeleteThanks Donna, I do love creating something new with old discarded bits and pieces.
DeleteShe is divine!
ReplyDeletethanks for expanding my knowledge of Oshun
love her connection with the birds and fish
sort of moon over water
and yes,
I can hear the balafon and the drums...
xox
Thanks eb, she seemed to cast her magic throughout the process. I really enjoyed carving her.
Deleteoh Robyn... she's gorgeous... so elegant! We were at the Fine Arts Museum in Boston a few weeks ago and I have to tell you, my favorite room held masks and barkcloth from Africa. In my mind I kept visualizing the markings on trees in our forest at home and the art felt familiar and comforting to me.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Laura. African bark cloth is beautiful isn't it?! I love the marks and patterns.
DeleteI forgot to say, "I love her freckles" ;-)
ReplyDelete... and I thought they were subtle :-)
DeleteRobyn---she is beautiful!
ReplyDeleteHi Toni, thank you so much!
DeleteWhat a wonderful piece Robyn! Just love the blades:)
ReplyDeleteThanks Di, it's such fun finding a use for a pile of scrap metal.
DeleteI love Oshun. She can watch over me anytime.
ReplyDeleteThanks Don, she takes her job seriously :-)
DeleteShe is absolutely stunning Robyn. Truly magnificent.
ReplyDeleteSeth, I really appreciate your comment. Thanks so much!
DeleteThe body decorations remind me of fish scales. It's wonderful to see one of your Goddesses again.
ReplyDeleteSo lovely and inspiring to see your work, Robyn. Solid, soulful, respectful.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing what you know about her. I learned.